The original stuff... Yes, that's a bottle stuffed in a can, to prevent breakage on the speedboat trip from Canada to the US. (And oddly enough, Canadian law didn't require "Rye Whiskey" to contain actual rye. So like the modern version, Lord knows what it was actually made of.)

I have to know what in the hell someone was thinking, as well. According to the rather sketchy figures, each case was valued at somewhere around $1,600 - in other words, this crap was allegedly worth $130+ a bottle? I think it's more likely that the stuff's about $230 a case, making the whole shipment worth about $200,000. $18-20 a bottle makes a hell of a lot more sense.

From another article: "Anttila estimates that the whiskey, with a retail value of over$200,000, would be worth as much as$1.4 million if sold through restaurants or bars."

Yep, that makes more sense. So, we now know the markup at restaurants and bars on shiatty whiskey - roughly sevenfold. That's why it's stupid to drink at bars, especially if you're not going to drink a mixed drink.

FormlessOne:I have to know what in the hell someone was thinking, as well. According to the rather sketchy figures, each case was valued at somewhere around $1,600 - in other words, this crap was allegedly worth $130+ a bottle? I think it's more likely that the stuff's about $230 a case, making the whole shipment worth about $200,000. $18-20 a bottle makes a hell of a lot more sense.

From another article: "Anttila estimates that the whiskey, with a retail value of over$200,000, would be worth as much as$1.4 million if sold through restaurants or bars."

Yep, that makes more sense. So, we now know the markup at restaurants and bars on shiatty whiskey - roughly sevenfold. That's why it's stupid to drink at bars, especially if you're not going to drink a mixed drink.

Restaurant/bar markup on the really good stuff is 4x-6x (and even more than that in nightclubs). The markup on the crap is anywhere from 7x to 15x. Because it takes the same amount of labor to pour Jack Daniels as it does to pour Oban. We would usually buy our well stuff in liters (34 oz), and had our cost covered after the 2nd pour.

The driver left a trailer full of booze sitting in a truck stop all weekend and expected it to be safe and sound ? Sounds like an inside job (or someone who can drive a truck actually noticed there was a load sitting unattended for way too long).

FrancoFile:FormlessOne: I have to know what in the hell someone was thinking, as well. According to the rather sketchy figures, each case was valued at somewhere around $1,600 - in other words, this crap was allegedly worth $130+ a bottle? I think it's more likely that the stuff's about $230 a case, making the whole shipment worth about $200,000. $18-20 a bottle makes a hell of a lot more sense.

From another article: "Anttila estimates that the whiskey, with a retail value of over$200,000, would be worth as much as$1.4 million if sold through restaurants or bars."

Yep, that makes more sense. So, we now know the markup at restaurants and bars on shiatty whiskey - roughly sevenfold. That's why it's stupid to drink at bars, especially if you're not going to drink a mixed drink.

Restaurant/bar markup on the really good stuff is 4x-6x (and even more than that in nightclubs). The markup on the crap is anywhere from 7x to 15x. Because it takes the same amount of labor to pour Jack Daniels as it does to pour Oban. We would usually buy our well stuff in liters (34 oz), and had our cost covered after the 2nd pour.

Bleah. That's horrible - I knew that there was a good markup (there would have to be, really), but that's just ridiculous. Besides, I'd rather drink Oban at home, anyway. Bars are almost pointless to me - I'm married, I don't do business over drinks, I've no one I need to impress with "bottle service" or "VIP seating", and I'm not keen on barfights or bullets.

FormlessOne:FrancoFile: FormlessOne: I have to know what in the hell someone was thinking, as well. According to the rather sketchy figures, each case was valued at somewhere around $1,600 - in other words, this crap was allegedly worth $130+ a bottle? I think it's more likely that the stuff's about $230 a case, making the whole shipment worth about $200,000. $18-20 a bottle makes a hell of a lot more sense.

From another article: "Anttila estimates that the whiskey, with a retail value of over$200,000, would be worth as much as$1.4 million if sold through restaurants or bars."

Yep, that makes more sense. So, we now know the markup at restaurants and bars on shiatty whiskey - roughly sevenfold. That's why it's stupid to drink at bars, especially if you're not going to drink a mixed drink.

Restaurant/bar markup on the really good stuff is 4x-6x (and even more than that in nightclubs). The markup on the crap is anywhere from 7x to 15x. Because it takes the same amount of labor to pour Jack Daniels as it does to pour Oban. We would usually buy our well stuff in liters (34 oz), and had our cost covered after the 2nd pour.

Bleah. That's horrible - I knew that there was a good markup (there would have to be, really), but that's just ridiculous. Besides, I'd rather drink Oban at home, anyway. Bars are almost pointless to me - I'm married, I don't do business over drinks, I've no one I need to impress with "bottle service" or "VIP seating", and I'm not keen on barfights or bullets.

The only things that are worthwhile at bars (as far as the alcohol goes)

Good wine, at a wine bar that knows what it's doing and doesn't lay on a ridiculous markupDraft beer (even though markup is high)Being able to get a wide variety of Scotch, Bourbon, or other whiskeys for side-by-side comparisons.

If you go for companionship, conversation, people-watching, etc. - well that's why bars cost $$$. You want entertainment, you're gonna pay for entertainment. You think that espresso at Starbucks costs them more than $0.10 or $0.15 for the beans? Labor, utilities, and rent are typically bigger expenses than cost of goods sold in any food/beverage operation.

FrancoFile:FormlessOne: FrancoFile: FormlessOne: I have to know what in the hell someone was thinking, as well. According to the rather sketchy figures, each case was valued at somewhere around $1,600 - in other words, this crap was allegedly worth $130+ a bottle? I think it's more likely that the stuff's about $230 a case, making the whole shipment worth about $200,000. $18-20 a bottle makes a hell of a lot more sense.

From another article: "Anttila estimates that the whiskey, with a retail value of over$200,000, would be worth as much as$1.4 million if sold through restaurants or bars."

Yep, that makes more sense. So, we now know the markup at restaurants and bars on shiatty whiskey - roughly sevenfold. That's why it's stupid to drink at bars, especially if you're not going to drink a mixed drink.

Restaurant/bar markup on the really good stuff is 4x-6x (and even more than that in nightclubs). The markup on the crap is anywhere from 7x to 15x. Because it takes the same amount of labor to pour Jack Daniels as it does to pour Oban. We would usually buy our well stuff in liters (34 oz), and had our cost covered after the 2nd pour.

Bleah. That's horrible - I knew that there was a good markup (there would have to be, really), but that's just ridiculous. Besides, I'd rather drink Oban at home, anyway. Bars are almost pointless to me - I'm married, I don't do business over drinks, I've no one I need to impress with "bottle service" or "VIP seating", and I'm not keen on barfights or bullets.

The only things that are worthwhile at bars (as far as the alcohol goes)

Good wine, at a wine bar that knows what it's doing and doesn't lay on a ridiculous markupDraft beer (even though markup is high)Being able to get a wide variety of Scotch, Bourbon, or other whiskeys for side-by-side comparisons.

If you go for companionship, conversation, people-watching, etc. - well that's why bars cost $$$. You want entertainment, you're gonna pay for entertainment. You think that espresso at ...

I've friends for good wine & alcohol variety (a few weeks ago, for example, my friends and I had a whiskey tasting party - I got to enjoy a couple of 30-years, including the one I bought for the party, a couple of 12-years, and the Shackleton repro blend), and a counterpressure system at home for draft beer (I brew.)

FormlessOne:I have to know what in the hell someone was thinking, as well. According to the rather sketchy figures, each case was valued at somewhere around $1,600 - in other words, this crap was allegedly worth $130+ a bottle? I think it's more likely that the stuff's about $230 a case, making the whole shipment worth about $200,000. $18-20 a bottle makes a hell of a lot more sense.

From another article: "Anttila estimates that the whiskey, with a retail value of over$200,000, would be worth as much as$1.4 million if sold through restaurants or bars."

Yep, that makes more sense. So, we now know the markup at restaurants and bars on shiatty whiskey - roughly sevenfold. That's why it's stupid to drink at bars, especially if you're not going to drink a mixed drink.

I use bars as a way to try something new without investing in a whole bottle and normal markup on quality stuff is closer to 3-400% which makes it worth it. (figure $10-12 for a double of scotch, you get 25 doubles from a 750ml and decent scotch averages around $70-80 a bottle around here)